Thursday Thirteen banner courtesy of Samulli
13 THINGS I LEARNED AFTER 11 MONTHS IN DUBAI
1. All things have their appropriate price. If you bought a well decorated but cheap cake at Carrefour, do not dare have great expectation of the taste!
2. Some people cross the street with a hot cup of tea in plastic/paper cups in their hands.
3. If you want to have a free photograph of yourself, overspeed on certain roads. I have been ‘photographed’ in Jumeirah Beach Road while running at 90kmh. The speed limit was 80 and I did not know since I was new to the area. That was why the reason why the Ferarri’s and the Porches around me were so mysteriously tame!
4. You will never know the real price of gold jewellery at the Gold Souk (Gold Market). You get a necklace, and the seller tells you it’s 570 dhs. You haggle for 500, he says yes. Then you try to take a peek at your wallet and tell him, oh, I only have 300 dirhams now, sorry. You head for the door and the seller runs after you with the sparkling object and say he is willing to give it to you for 300 because you are special.
5. There are more than one thousand kinds of spices sold at the Spice Souk (Spice Market).
6. The Spice Man at the spice souk thinks I have “special needs”. Like the tone of the ancient Ali Baba he came to me and in hushed voice, “Take this herb to stimulate your s_x life, Madam.” My 4 year old chuckled.
7. All that glitters in Gold Souk is not gold. There are also extremely sexy Russian girls with platinum hair and shorty shorts.
8. The internet at the office might not be free.
9. Despite being a Muslim country, Christmas is celebrated with gigantic Christmas trees in the malls, Christmas carols.
10. You can still go swim at the beaches in the middle of December.
11. I learned to never underestimate the 50C temperature and 100% humidity during summer.
12. Petrol is cheaper than water.
13. You can live normally without speaking the official national language that is Arabic.
Grace (17)
Kayla @ TheEclecticElement (10)
Krista (3)
Maribeth (3)
neph (3)
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
Grace, you have the absolute best Thirsday Thirteens! I’ve always wondered how I would handle myself in a market haggling situation! Sounds so interesting…and I just love the idea of the beach in December. I’ll try to get a TT up somtime tomorrow…
Jennifer in OR’s last blog post..Works for Me Wednesday: Superfood on the Go
This is amazing. Especially number 12. Thanks for the educational post.
susiej’s last blog post..Scientific Proof that Santa Does Exist
Oh geeze. It’s Wednesday which means I have to think up something for Thursday Thirteen! Oh what shall I do?
#4 is great.
rose’s last blog post..for things we can’t control…
So, you wouldn’t return to live in Dubai?
Vladimir’s last blog post..Smart ways to enhance your blog’s RSS feed
On #3, “Ferarri’s and the Porches around me were so mysteriously tame”…makalingaw man ka Gracie oi.
#4 is true, even here i have experienced that. Even sa PH, di ba? Baratan blues, and the worst pa, if you have bought it, lesser pa diay ang price sa ubang store!
#6“Take this herb to stimulate your s_x life, Madam.”…:lol: ! Walay PG ang Spice Man!
bing’s last blog post..Not so lakwatsera…
wow! you could haggle that much?
and that “spice man” offering you something for your special needs – cool! haha
shiera’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #5
I hate haggling.
Happy TT.
It’s not one of my favorite hobbies too but it’s the only way you won’t feel cheated in Dubai’s Gold Market.
Petrol is definitely not cheaper than water here, that’s for sure.
The spice guy cracks me up.
Robin’s last blog post..Well that was unnecessarily stressful
I’ve tried to type a message many times here. something wrong with the display. sorry.I enjoyed reading about Dubai. Haggling is fun. You just have to be shameless with it and you get amazing deals.
Smiler’s last blog post..Thirteen Things about Smiler [#4]
I worked in Riyadh for a couple of years and was there earlier this year visiting the hubby so I can relate with not knowing how much gold jewellery really costs and water being cheaper than petrol. But it will be THE DAY if I see a sexy Russian girl in short shorts wlking around in Riyadh, hahaha!
Candy’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen # 8
i got a friend who’s based there in dubai
and she says the same thing. =)
do visit my T13 @ Dear Me.
Ivan Girl’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #23
Oh, I just love #3,6 and 10. They sound like real fun that would have suited me perfectly
Thanks for the virtual trip. I’ve heard a lot about Dubai lately so it was timely finding you this Thursday.
Petral cheaper than water? *Headshake*
Happy TT
~X
This is very interesting. You paint an exotic picture with this list. Petrol cheaper than water has me scratching my head, though maybe not for long because water is becoming scarce.
1,000 spices would be a dream, too!
SandyCarlson’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen No. 12: Chrismahanuhajj–What?
That is great to know… Life in Dubai seems interesting!!!
No nonsense girl’s last blog post..13 random question…
Hahahah… I should send this to my friends… so many of them are off to Dubai!
Coco’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – 13th edition
Oh, how fun. I love the idea of swimming on the beach. And, it’s wonderful that you can celebrate Christmas and not speak Arabic but do just fine.
Anglophile Football Fanatic’s last blog post..TT #15: Utterings of the Small Boy Child
No. 13 was interesting because your first instinct is to think there’d be difficulties if you didn’t speak the language.
Great list – thank you!
Tilly Greene’s last blog post..Thursday 13 – 25!
Very interesting.
Happy tt!
jenn’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #13
Very interesting list. Sounds like you had a memorable time,
Happy Holidays!
Grace, I want to come visit and see so much of this for myself!! Well, not myself speeding. I could live a happy life without that. But the rest? Absolutely!
Susan Helene Gottfried’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #58 — Musical Hanukkah Wrap-up
Thanks for visiting my TT.
You have a very interesting list. I was surprised about Christmas.
Alasandra’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen ~ Turquoise
Very interesting and educational list. I would love a spice market..NOT for special needs LOL, I just love spices.
Greatfullivin’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #9
I feel like you just flew me over there for an hour. Fascinating stuff.
Rian Fike’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen: Simple Pleasures.
I’m laughing about #4–this is what my husband did at the market in Pisa, and how we ended up with that ugly gorilla mask.
Darla’s last blog post..TT #78
LOL at the spice man! But the spice market sounds amazing! I just read about your incident with the dog. Yikes!
tanabata’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #10: Winter Titles
I always like to know what’s going on in other parts of the world. It would be interesting to be plopped down in a place that is very foreign to me (if I knew I’d be able to go home soon)! Thanks for the education…
ellen b’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #11 ~ Moisiisms
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I would never have known any of this! And what great things to learn!
Happy TT Grace!
On a Limb with Claudia’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – A little kindness.
i enjoyed that too cultures fascinate me how do we all do similar things in such different ways?
marcia v’s last blog post..Thursday Thireeteen #20 13 More Nativities
Wow, I had no idea. 1000 spices?? Woowee…Great list. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by:)
Lori’s last blog post..TT #41
Awesome list idea, thanks for sharing your wisdom and knowledge!
Thanks for visiting my T13 #60: 13 Things I Want for Christmas But Will Never Get
Dane Bramage’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #60
I’m surprised by #9!
Believer in Balance’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #14: Our Christmas Eve Traditions
I’m intrigued by Dubai, but the heat prohibits me from moving there — my wife would be very angry with me — she’s Irish with fair skin and the sun hurts her badly…
Joseph’s last blog post..Never Pay Retail
Wow!! Some great information. I will remember this (especially #3 because I have a lead foot) if I’m ever in the neighborhood.
Thanks for visiting my TT!
Denise’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #24
thanks for the list. i like that you can swim in december.
jehara’s last blog post..#12
Wow. I remember last time I was here thinking that your life sounded pretty much like mine, no matter that you are halfway around the world, but I just had to buy gas. At $3.00/gallon I had to settle for a quarter of a tank.
marilyn’s last blog post..TT: warmth=cheer
What an interesting list!
An Ordinary Mom’s last blog post..“I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day”
I love your observations about Dubai. Sounds absolutely crazy, like something out of Blade Runner. But the paper cups full of hot tea remind me of England. They’d buy tea in paper cups at the station and dash away to catch the next train.
Carrie Lofty’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen: Procrastination Ahoy!
I’ve only been to the airport at Dubai, and that doesn’t count. I’d love to visit, and your TT makes that wish even stronger.
Oh, wow, it sounds very cool. Although I wouldn’t want to live there permanently.
Joely’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen (TT#48)
Excellent lessons! Sounds likes you’ve learned a lot in 11 months.
Desert Songbird’s last blog post..Songbird, Party of One?
#11 is one reason why I will never, ever go there in the summer.
Fascinating TT! I don’t think I have been here before, so I shall have to have a look around.
I have two TT13s this week:
Better decluttering through TT13
http://www.ravensroads.com/index.php/tt13-decluttering/
http://www.ravensrv.com/thursday-thirteen-4-calistoga-california-for-rvers/
Calistoga, California for RVers
Linda R. Moore’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #22: Better decluttering through Thursday Thirteen
Very cool! Sounds like an interesting place.
Happy TT!
Nicole Austin’s last blog post..Rakahnja’s Haven
Good to know! My dh will be there in March. I should send him your list before he goes.
Pamela Kramer’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen – Work Out
I don’t see myself ever going to Dubai, but if I ever do I’ll have to remember that haggling thing when it comes to buying gold. That made me giggle.
Natalie’s last blog post..Friday’s Feast Dec 14
what’ll happen now dude?!
divas’s last blog post..“For whom does one write?”
Amazing. I don’t think I’ll get over there, but thanks for a glimpse, for sure.
And Happy belated tt!
MamaLee’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #29
Amazing…sounds like a really interesting place to live.
I’d probably get my free photograph often…owing to my lead feet.
Shoshana’s last blog post..From The Stacks (and Giveaways Ideas)
Grace, you have learned so many things. I loved the open markets in Mexico, but the one thing I would love to be able to buy is fresh Spices, not that I have any “special needs *wink*, but I love the smell of fresh cinnamon,cloves, and to be able to buy fresh saffron, would be just lovely.
Christine’s last blog post..Friday’s Feast #172
Petrol may be cheaper, but I stick to drinking and bathing in water!
Interesting list!
Thanks for visiting my best wishes TT.
Tink’s last blog post..TT #67: best wishes